Windrow trailer



F. E. MAURITS WINDROW TRAILER Sept. 13, 1949.

Filed March 25, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INM VEN TOR,

F. E. MAURITS WINDROW TRAILER Sept. 13, 1949.

4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 25. 1947 illlll F. E. MAURl-rs 2,482,014

WINDROW TRAILER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR, o' rresz E Van/nfs'. BY

Filed March 25, 1947 Sept. 13, 1949.

patented Sept. l?, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WINDROW TRAILER Forrest E. Maurits, West Point, Nebr. I Application March 25, 1947, Serial No. 7737,192

Claims.

This invention relates to a wind-row trailer.

An object of the invention is the construction of an eiflcient and novel machine which will windrow straw or any residue from a combined or thrashing harvester.

Another object of the invention is the construction of a machine which is low enough to be placed under the part of the combine or thrasher where the straw is discharged. The residue or .straw from a small combine is so scattered in the eld it is very hard to save without a great effort as well as time being involved. Therefore, the wind-rows produced by my machine are adjustable from approximately feet to 50 feet, depending upon the weight of the material and residue one is combining, making it very easy to sweep up and stack the straw, or pick up with wind-row bailer or hay loader.

A still further object of this invention is to construct an ecient low-down machine which is provided with a body that is capable of receiving a maximum load of straw, or the like.

Another object of the invention is th-e construction of a machine which has a normally slow-moving conveyor, but which conveyor can be speeded up for the eflicient operation of the machine.

Another object of the invention is the construction of a machine of this class that has a conveyor that is operable at diierent speeds, producing elcient results.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention comprises certain novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a View in side el-evation of the lefthand side of the machine, while Fig. 2 is a similar view of the right-hand side of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view.

Fig. 4 is a vertical, longitudinal sectional view of the machine, on line 4 4, Fig. 6.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 5-5, Fig. 4, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view, taken on line 6 6, Fig. 4, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view in elevation of the machine showing particularly the frame of the body, the operating rod and the trigger means connected thereto.

Fig. 8v is a fragmentary View of the machine showing one set of brackets, part of the operating rod, th-e adjustable sleeve carried thereby, and one of the triggers, connected to the sleeve and the brackets.

Fig. 9 is a view in elevation of the clutch device, shown in a closed position, while Fig. 10 shows the clutch device in an open or unmeshing condition.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line II-I I, Fig. 8, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 12 is a4 sectional viewtaken on line I2-I2, Fig. 8, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings, in which the preferred embodiment of this invention is illustrated. I designates the axle or primary shaft which has two wheels 2 xedly secured thereto. A pair of substantially U-shaped frames 3 are suitably supported upon the primary shaft I. A pair of L- shapedtracks 4 is supported upon frames 3; these tracks 4 extend inward and are for the purpose hereinafter described. A pair of channel irons 5 are supported upon the upper portion of frames 3, and on these channel irons 5 is mounted the straw bed 6; the straw bed 6 is provided with outwardly flared sides 1. Therefore, the frames 3, channel irons 5 and straw bed 6 constitute the body of the machine.

Suitably secured to the bottom of the channel irons 5 are large sprocket wheels 8; in other words, there are four sprocket wheels 8, two being on the left-hand side of the machine, Fig. 1, and two being on the right-hand side of the machine, Fig. 2. Mounted on these sprocket wheels 8 are endless sprocket chains 9. Attached 'to these sprocket lchains 9 is a pusher-blade I0.

Suitably attached to and extending from the forward end of the body of the machine is a hitch I I; this hitch II is utilized for attaching the machine to a combine or thrasher, or the like. This machin-e is built low enough to fit under the discharge end of the combine or thrasher.

There is provided means for driving the conveyor, constituted by the sprocket chains 9 and pusher-blade I0, at diiferent speeds, for the purpose hereinafter described. To drive the conveyor at a slow speed, a small sprocket I2 is xedly secured to the axle or shaft I (Figs. 2 and 6),over which passes the sprocket chain I3. An auxiliary shaft I4 is suitably journaled upon the channel ir'ons 5, and on one end of said auxiliary shaft I4 is a ratchet-type sprocket I5, of any ordinary type. l Thisfratchet sprocket I5 registersv with theismall sprocket I2, and chain I3passes over this sprocket I5. These sprockets I2 and I5, together with chain I3, constitute the slow drive for the conveyor. When the conveyor is being driven by the slow drive, the pusher-blade I will be moving under the straw bed at a slow speed, allowing the dumping straw to collect considerably upon the body of the machine before being dumped.

The mechanism for driving the conveyor at a high speed comprises gear wheel I6k xedly secured to shaft I4', Fig. l, and this gear wheel I6 meshes with small gear I1', which gear I1 is suitably mounted on the body of the machine. This mounting comprises placing the gear wheel I on shaft I4 and small gear I1 on the auxiliary shaft I4, Figs. 1 and 6. On primary shaft I, Figs.

9 and 10, is a loosely mountedv sprocket I8; This...

sprocket I8 is provided with a sleeve 2I which has ratchet teeth on its outer end which mesh with theratchet teeth on inner end of sleeve 25, which is part of shaft collar 23 fixed to shaft I with set screw 23a. Sprocket chain 22 is mounted on sprocket I8 and small sprocket I1, Fig. 1. The outer half of disengaging collar 24 slides over sleeve 25 with its outer edge held in place by flange 26, fixed to shaft collar 23; its inner edge has two high points 23h. These points 23h t into socketsZIlin other half ofdisengaging collar I9, which inner edge is held in place by sprocket I8- and inner-sleeve 2l. Moving disengaging collar 24 causes high points 23h to leave sockets 20 on disengaging collar I9, which isfastened to -frame with an arm linkage I9a, Fig. 6; this movement disengagesthe clutch, Fig. 10. A coil spring 21 is on shaft I, against sprocket I8, andis held in place by the set collar 28. An integral operatingnger 29 is on loose collar 24, the outer end of this nger 29 being connected to the inner end of link 30. The outer end-of link 30 (Fig. 1) is connected to the lower` endof rockery arm 3|.

Rocker arm 3| is mountedon shaft 32. Depending from the shaft 32 is primary trigger 33 (Fig. 4). A control or operating rod 34 is pivotally connected at its outer end to the primary trigger 33 (Fig. 7). On the inner end of operating rod 34 is an adjustable sleeve 35 (Fig. 8). This sleeve is held in an adjusted position uponrod 34 by means of a set screw 36. An auxiliary trigger 31 is connected at its inner or upper end, by'a pivot 38, preferably to one side of the sleeve 35. Sets of'brackets 39 are' placed at intervals upon the bottom of the straw bed 6; each set of brackets comprising two arranged parallel. The depending brackets 39 areprovided with elongated slots 49 in which pin 4I slides.

In operation when the pusher-blade IIJ strikes the lower end of the primary trigger 33, it throws the trigger inwardly as shown in Fig. 7', this causing the auxiliary trigger 31 to have its inner end 'swung inwardly, ready to be struck; or pushed by the pusher-blade I9 as it passes said auxiliary trigger in its travel. When the primary trigger is swung inwardly by the pusher-blade, shaft 32 will be slightly rotated, which in turn operates the rocker arm 3I to throw the loose collar 24 into the position shown in Fig. 10. This causes the conveyor to move slowly, allowing full loading of the body of the machine. By moving-the collar along the control rod 34 to anew position the rapidity of dumpage can be varied. This moving or adjustment ofthe collaris accomplished by removal of pin 4I and placing thepin upon a new set of brackets 39. Of course, the

`pin has to be put through the trigger 31; in the same hook-up as shown in Figs. 8, 11 and 12. The

series of brackets 39 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 are provided for this adjustment of the collar 35, trigger 31 and pin 4I. When the trigger 31 is actuated, to swing it from the position shown in Fig. 7 to the position shown in Fig. 8, the clutch mechanism will be as shown in Fig. 9. This is in the rapid-movement position, for the conveyor, causing the load on the straw bed to be rapidly discharged, Therefore, it follows that the closer the auxiliary trigger device 35, 31v and 4I is to the primary trigger device 33 the shorter is the time of loading the body, by the slow motion of the conveyor. It is sometimes desirable to have the conveyor move at a slow speed only for a short time, as when the straw is being discharged at a rapid speed to the machine, as when there is an `'abundance of grain, and the discharge of the straw isconsequently heavier. If there is a lean discharge of straw, then the period of slow travel of the conveyor is longer, allowing the body to ll with straw.

Whenthe clutch mechanism is in its inoperative position as shown in Fig. 10, then the conveyor is being driven by. the slow gearing, consisting of sprocket I2, chain I3 and ratchetsprocket I5. However, as soon as the pusherblade Ill of the conveyor strikes the auxiliary trigger 31, irrespective of what set of brackets it is mounted on, the rapid movement of theA conveyor will be caused, because of the throwing-in of. the cooperating parts ofA the clutch device (Figs. 9 and 10) as hereinbefore described.

If the operator on the combine Wishes to operate the clutch mechanism, he can pull on the cable or rope 42 (Fig. 1) which is attachedy to the upper end of rocker arm 3l. This willresult in operating link 30 and finger 29 of the clutch mechanism.

It is to be noted that the outer end of rod 34, while-being pivotally connected to the primary trigger 33, is relatively retained in a xed position while the inner end of said rod is adjustably mounted on the different sets of brackets 39.

In the travel of the sprocket chains 9, theyE will partly travel over the angle irons or tracks 4; these tracks protect to a certain degree the chains from coming in contact with growth or stubble `in the field over, whichthe machine passes.

While I have described the preferred embodiment. of my invention and illustrated the same in the accompanying drawings, certain minor changes or alterations may appear to one skilled in the art to which this invention relates during Athe extensive manufacture of the same, and. I,

therefore, reserve the right-to make such changes or alterations as shall fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a machine of the class described, the vcombination of a primaryl shaftv provided with traction wheels, a body mounted on said primary shaft, a conveyor having a portion travelingover part of said body, a clutch device on said primary shaft, means connecting said-clutch device and conveyor, a primary trigger extending from said body, an auxiliary trigger and means mounting said auxiliary trigger on said body, a rod connecting said triggers, and means connecting said triggers and clutch device, whereby movement of said triggers will control the operation of said clutch device.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination of aprimaryshaft provided with traction wheels, a body mounted on said primary shaft, a conveyor having a portion traveling over said body, a clutch device on said primary shaft, means connecting said clutch device and conveyor, a primary trigger provided with a shaft depending from said body, means connecting said last-mentioned shaft to said clutch device, an auxiliary trigger and means for adjustably positioning said auxiliary trigger upon said body, a rod and .means connecting said rod to said triggers, and said conveyor provided with means for operating said triggers,

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a primary shaft provided With traction wheels, a body mounted on said primary shaft, a clutch device on said primary shaft, an endless conveyor having portions traveling over said body, said conveyor provided with a pusherblade, a series of sets of depending brackets on said body, each bracket provided with an elongated slot, a primary trigger depending from said body, a pin extending through the slots of one set of brackets, an auxiliary trigger mounted on said pin, a rod connected at its outer end to said primary trigger, a sleeve on said rod, said auxiliary trigger connected at its upper end to said sleeve, means connecting said primary trigger to said clutch device, and said pusher-blade being adapted to first engage the primary trigger, and subsequently engage the auxiliary trigger for controlling movement of the clutch device.

4. In a machine of the class described, the combination of an open-ended body, an endless conveyor having an upper portion thereof traveling vided with means for independently operating said triggers, and means connecting said triggers to said clutch device, whereby movement of the clutch device will be controlled by diierent triggers being operated.

FORREST E. MAURITS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 932,461 Garst Aug. 31, 1909 1,809,796 Beardsley et a1 June 9, 1931 1,555,654 Garrett Sept. 29, 1925 1,979,945 Kranick Nov. 6, 1934 2,321,168 Tognetti June 8, 1943 2,340,983 Pfeiffer et al. Feb. 8, 1944 2,405,534 Voth Aug. 6, 1946 2,431,000 Step Nov. 18, 1947 

